Sale 1057 — The Curtis Collection: 1847-1901 Issues
Sale Date — Thursday, 7 November, 2013
Category — 1851-56 Issue (Scott 6-17)
1c Blue, Ty. Ia (6). Position 97R4, with curl in "C" of "Cent", original gum, lightly hinged, three large margins including part of adjoining stamp at left, just in at bottom, deep rich Plate 4 color, sharp proof-like impression clearly shows the varietyVERY FINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT TYPE Ia IMPERFORATE. ESPECIALLY RARE WITH THE CURL IN "C" OF "CENT" VARIETY.
The Curl in "C" of "Cent" variety was caused by a thread adhering to the relief on the transfer roll. This also caused the Curl on Shoulder variety on Position 97L4.
The Curl in "C" variety was used by Neinken on p. 275 of his 1c book as additional proof that the same relief was used to enter the 6th and 10th rows of the plate. Neinken states that the thread attached itself to the relief on the transfer roll after Position 57R4 was entered. The variety is then found on Position 97R4 (the position offered here and the first position to receive the variety) and also on Positions 56R4, 96R4, 55R4 and 95R4. The thread either dropped off or was removed after entry of 95R4, as 54R4, the next position to be entered from this relief, does not show the variety.
With 1978 and 1995 P.F. certificates
1c Blue, Ty. II (7). Position 3L2, original gum, lightly hinged, full to large margins incl. top sheet margin, beautiful fresh color, Extremely Fine, with 1989 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, XF 90; SMQ $2,400.00)
1c Blue, Ty. II (7). Unused (no gum), clear to large margins, fresh color, Very Fine, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (F-VF 75; SMQ $300.00)
1c Blue, Ty. III, Position 99R2 (8). Unused (no gum), clear stitch watermark at top, large margins to just in, rich color on bright paper, thin spot at centerFINE APPEARANCE. A RARE UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE IMPERFORATE ONE-CENT TYPE III FROM POSITION 99R2. VERY FEW ARE KNOWN IN UNUSED CONDITION.
Plate 2 was made in late 1855, and consists of 198 stamps that are Type II, one position that is Type III (99R2) and one that is Type IIIA (100R2).
Guide dots were used to accurately lay out the subjects on the plate. Positions 79 and 89 were transferred perfectly using their guide dots. However, the guide dot to the south-east of Position 88R2, which was used to align the single B Relief for Position 99R2, was placed far out of line, resulting in the bottom part of the A Relief being transferred into the bottom part of Position 89 (and in the margin below this position) by mistake. When the fresh entry was made in Position 99R a full transfer of the design was not possible without running into the error in Position 89R. The position was therefore short transferred at top, and apparently also at bottom, creating the finest example of Type III found on any plate (see pp. 183-184 of Neinken book).
A Power Search review demonstrates how rare this is in unused condition. Only four singles are known in sound original-gum condition, and we have offered only seven unused singles (with and without gum) since keeping computerized records.
With 1997 P.F. certificate
1c Blue, Ty. IIIa (8A). Original gum, margins to touched but clearly showing the break at top and complete line at bottom, few scattered toned spots, Fine appearing and scarce original-gum example of the 1c Ty. IIIa
1c Blue, Ty. IV (9). Recut once at top, original gum, lightly hinged, large even margins all around incl. part of top recut line from stamp below, deep rich color, Extremely Fine, a beautiful stamp, with 1991 P.F. and 2010 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $1,525.00)
1c Blue, Ty. IV (9). Recut once at top and bottom, original gum, large margins to touched at bottom with portion of adjoining stamp at left, fresh and Fine
3c Orange Brown, Ty. II (10A). Original gum, lightly hinged, huge margins to clear incl. significant portion of adjoining stamp at left, rich color and proof-like impressionVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A STUNNING ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1851 3-CENT TYPE II IMPERFORATE ORANGE BROWN.
Due to the narrow spacing on the plate, this issue rarely comes with margins as large as the stamp offered here. This should be considered a true condition rarity.
Ex Chapin, Scarsdale and Laila. With 1979 and 2003 P.F. certificates.
3c Orange Brown, Ty. II (10A). Original gum, lightly hinged, large margins to clear at left corners, incl. portions of four adjacent stamps, rich 1851 Orange Brown shade, small filled thin spot and corner crease at top right ending in tiny tear, still Very Fine appearance, with 1990 and 2004 P.F. certificates
3c Brownish Carmine, Ty. I (11). Original gum, h.r., bright color, clear margins to large at left capturing part of frameline of adjoining stamp, fresh and Fine
3c Brownish Carmine, Ty. II (11A). Position 70R2L, original gum, lightly hinged, large margins incl. part of adjacent stamp at bottom, clear at lower left, bright color, trivial natural inclusion, Very Fine, ex Wagshal, with 1998 P.F. certificate and note from Dr. Amonette identifying the shade as 1852 Medium Brownish Carmine
5c Red Brown (12). Relief A, part original gum, large margins to clear incl. right sheet margin, rich color and detailed impression, tiny corner creaseVERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE ORIGINAL-GUM FOUR-MARGINED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1856 ISSUE.
Ex Mayer. With 2005 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail as original gum
10c Green, Ty. I (13). Unused (no gum), huge margins to clear, gorgeous color on bright white paperVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFUL AND FRESH UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 1855 10-CENT TYPE I IMPERFORATE ISSUE.
The Type I stamps are defined as having complete scrolls at bottom. They are only found on the bottom row of the plate (20 positions). Unfortunately, many were trimmed at bottom when they were separated, leaving a dearth of four-margin copies.
With 2000 P.F. certificate
10c Green, Type II (14). Deep rich color and clear impression, original gum with h.r. called "sweated" on accompanying certificate, faint corner crease at bottom right, Extremely Fine appearance, ex Concord, with 1986 P.F. certificate
10c Green, Ty. III (15). Original gum, large to huge margins incl. part of adjoining stamp at left, intense color, tiny gum soak at top not mentioned on accompanying certificateEXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1855 10-CENT TYPE III IMPERFORATE ISSUE.
The 1855 10c stamps that have survived with original gum generally come from blocks and strips broken in recent years. Only a few exist without faults, and even fewer make the grade of Extremely Fine.
With 1994 P.F. certificate
10c Green, Ty. IV (16). Position 86L1, recut at top, original gum which covers approximately half the stamp, described as "small part original gum" on accompanying certificates, large margins to just touched at top right ornament, rich color, tiny thin at topFINE APPEARANCE. A RARE UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 1855 10-CENT TYPE IV WITH PART ORIGINAL GUM. ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL CLASSIC UNITED STATES UNUSED STAMPS.
As an indication of rarity, we have offered only nine unused copies (four without gum, five with gum) in all of our Rarities sales and in the last 14 years of auctions. Apart from the recent Frelinghuysen sale, the last time we offered an example with original gum was in our 1999 Golin sale.
With 1988 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates. Scott Retail as no gum $15,000.00. Scott Retail as with gum
12c Black (17). Original gum, lightly hinged, huge even margins all around, bright shade and detailed impression on crisp paper, a few tiny toned spots on gum which are so trivial they are not even mentioned on either accompanying certificateEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 12-CENT 1851 ISSUE WHICH HAS RECEIVED THE GRADE OF XF-SUPERB 95 FROM P.S.E. AN EXCEEDINGLY DIFFICULT STAMP TO FIND WITH SUCH LARGE MARGINS AND IN SOUND ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION.
The 12c 1851 plate was laid down with very little room between stamps -- just barely one millimeter, to be exact. For this reason, collectors have a difficult time finding stamps with large margins all around. The original-gum example offered here, with its unusually wide margins on all sides, is a true condition rarity.
Ex Scarsdale. With 1994 P.F. and 2006 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, XF-Superb 95; SMQ $20,600.00). This is one of only two original gum stamps graded 95, with none higher.